Algorithmic model to allow for order completion at settlement or at close using exchange mandated rules for settlement determination

ABSTRACT

A system and method for managing and processing Market-On-Close orders for financial instruments by dynamically employing trading strategies according to settlement rules for financial instruments is provided. Techniques disclosed can include the use of an execution model that allows a trader to submit a MOC order using a trading system. The trading system can be configured to store settlement and validation rules corresponding to a given trading instrument and/or exchange and can be configured to execute the order according to the rules specified by an exchange. The model disclosed herein can rely on exchange mandated settlement rules and settlement times, can accept the order prior to the settlement time, and can manage the order according to parameters and details of the execution model and the settlement rules specified by an exchange for a given instrument.

CROSS REFERENCE AND RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/079,388 filed on Nov. 13, 2014, the entire contents of which areincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Disclosed Subject Matter

The disclosed subject matter relates generally to trading systemsconfigured to manage Market-On-Close (referred to herein as MOC) orders.The novel trading systems can be implemented on a plurality of exchangesand markets.

2. Description of Related Art

Traditional Market-On-Close (MOC) models allow traders to submit ordersto be completed at or very close to the close time of the electronicallytraded instrument. For example, a trader can submit a MOC order prior tothe end of the market day on a particular exchange.

Certain exchanges support native MOC orders. That is, for example, thetrader can submit a MOC order directly to an exchange, and the exchangewill execute the order as a market order, or in some cases, a limitorder as close to the end of the market day as possible.

Certain exchanges do not support native MOC orders. However, MOC modelsexist that allow a trader to place an order such that it is executedwith the use of an algorithm designed to determine and place one or moreorders with the exchange very close to the end of the market day. Inthese scenarios, the algorithms typically run on computing platformsco-located with the exchange. These computing platforms are typicallycontrolled by an entity to which a trader subscribes, whereby the tradercan communicate with the computing platform via a network. One of skillin the art will appreciate, however, that a variety of otherarrangements are suitable, such as communicating orders to a broker thatexecutes the orders accordingly.

Traditional MOC models can be suitable in connection with instrumentsfor which marking-to-market (settlement) is performed at the end of thetrading day. For example, in connection with the trading of futures, anexchange or clearing house can determine the settlement price of anasset covered by futures contracts at the end of the trading day, suchthat the gains and losses on the futures contract can be reflected inthe accounts of the parties involved.

For certain instruments, such as some futures instruments, however, theofficial end of day mark to market (settlement price) can be determinedbefore the end of trading day during the settlement period. Moreover,exchanges can specify different rules that apply to settlementcalculation for individual instruments (or group of products). In theseinstances, traders may desire to submit specific orders with productspecific parameters to be executed around the settlement period. Forexample, a trader may desire to complete an order at or better thansettlement price or another predetermined benchmark. Traditional MOCmodels, however, can fail to account for exchange specified instrumentlevel parameters or instrument specific rules. Thus, manual interventionby the trader trading across one or more exchanges can be laborintensive and costly.

Accordingly, there is a need for improved techniques for management ofMOC orders according to settlement rules for financial instruments inthe technological field of electronic trading.

SUMMARY

The purpose and advantages of the disclosed subject matter will be setforth in and apparent from the description that follows, as well as willbe learned by practice of the disclosed subject matter. Additionaladvantages of the disclosed subject matter will be realized and attainedby the methods and systems particularly pointed out in the writtendescription and claims hereof, as well as from the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the disclosed subject matter, as embodied and broadly described, thepresently disclosed subject matter relates to techniques for themanagement of the trading of financial instruments, and moreparticularly to techniques for management of MOC orders according tosettlement and validation rules for financial instruments.

In one aspect of the disclosed subject matter, techniques for managementof MOC orders can include the use of an execution model that allows atrader to submit a MOC order using a trading system. The trading systemcan be configured to store settlement rules corresponding to a giventrading instrument and/or exchange and can be configured to execute theorder according to the rules specified by an exchange. The executionmodel as herein disclosed can rely on exchange mandated settlement rulesand settlement times, can accept the order prior to the settlement time,and can manage the order according to parameters and details of theexecution model and the settlement rules specified by an exchange for agiven instrument.

The disclosed techniques can allow an order to be executed at or betterthan a determined settlement price without the need for a user tocontrol all of the various exchange mandated rules, times andparameters.

According to one aspect of the disclosed subject matter, a method formanaging MOC orders is provided. The method can comprise storing in atrading system comprising one or more computing devices one or moresettlement rules associated with one or more exchanges, wherein the oneor more settlement rules are associated with one or more financialinstruments traded on the one or more exchanges. The method as disclosedherein next comprises receiving by the trading system a MOC order havingone or more order parameters, where the order parameters identify atleast an exchange and a financial instrument. As embodied herein, themethod further comprises determining by the trading system, based on oneor more of the stored settlement rules corresponding to the identifiedexchange, the identified financial instrument and/or other static dataassociated with the identified financial instrument, a closing strategy.Based on the one or more of the stored settlement rules corresponding tothe identified exchange and the identified financial instrument, thedetermined closing strategy and/or other static data associated with thefinancial instrument, the trading system determines a closing strategyrelease time and provisions an execution model by which to execute theorder.

In one embodiment, executing an execution model can include validatingthe one or more orders based on exchange specific validation rules aspart of an integrated order management system, and transmitting one ormore validated orders directly to an exchange. In another embodiment,executing the execution model can include validating the one or moreorders and transmitting one or more validated orders to a broker thatexecutes the one or more orders according to the execution model.Executing the execution model can further include compliance andreporting of the executed order by the trading system to a givenregulatory and/or reporting entity. Executing the execution model canadditionally include rejecting the one or more orders based on theexchange specific validation rules. The transmitting can includecommunicating the one or more validated orders according to astandardized electronic messaging protocol.

According to another aspect of the disclosed subject matter, a systemfor managing MOC orders is provided. The system can generally comprise astorage component, a processing component, and at least one computingdevice coupled via a network to an exchange. The storage component canbe configured to store market data, one or more settlement and/orvalidation rules associated with one or more exchanges, and one or moresettlement rules associated with one or more financial instrumentstraded on the exchanges. The at least one computing device of thedisclosed subject matter can provide a trading client configured toreceive one or more order parameters for generating one or more MOCorders based on user input, such as user-defined parameters, and defaultparameters. The at least one computing device can transmit the one ormore MOC orders to the processing component of the trading system.

As embodied herein, the trading client can comprise one or morecomputing devices configured to define order parameters via an entrydialog box and/or alternatively configured to communicate orderparameters according to a standardized electronic messaging protocol.

The processing component of the disclosed subject matter can beconfigured to receive the one or more MOC orders and determine, based onthe one or more order parameters, the one or more settlement rules, andthe identified financial instrument, a closing strategy. Based on theone or more of the stored settlement rules corresponding to theidentified exchange and the identified financial instrument, thedetermined closing strategy, and/or other static data associated withthe financial instrument, the processing component can determine aclosing strategy release time and dynamically provision an executionmodel by which to execute the one or more MOC orders. According to anembodiment, the trading system is communicably coupled to the one ormore exchanges and is configured to directly execute one or more MOCorders to the one or more exchanges or, alternatively, transmit the oneor more orders to a broker that executes the one or more ordersaccording to the provisioned execution model.

According to another embodiment, the trading system can include a datafeed for receiving and transmitting data concerning financialinstruments and/or the one or more exchanges. The data feed can beconfigured to execute push software for periodically transmittingfinancial instrument data to the storage component, processingcomponent, and/or the at least one computing device.

According to another embodiment, one or more software components can beconfigured in the one or more trading system components or computingdevices to modify or cancel an order entry message generated by atrading client before the order is executed.

According to yet another embodiment, one or more software components canbe configured in the one or more trading system components or computingdevices to provide communication via a standardized electronic messagingprotocol, such as FIX or SWIFT, and alternatively or additionally via anentry dialog box.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a closing strategy of one or moreembodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary order entry dialog display for defining aplurality of parameters concerning one or more orders of one or moreembodiments.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for implementing one or more embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a timing diagram for implementing one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the various exemplaryembodiments of the disclosed subject matter, exemplary embodiments ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The techniques for management of MOC orders disclosed herein can includea trading system adapted to receive, manage, and/or process MOC ordersfrom one or more traders on one or more exchanges. The trading systemcan include, for example, one or more computing devices, servers, mobiledevices, cloud based devices, or the like, which include one or moreprocessors, one or more storage components, and one or more networkconnections. In certain embodiments, the trading system can include, forexample, one or more computing devices co-located with one or moreexchanges. Additionally or alternatively, the trading system can includeone or more computing devices coupled to one or more exchanges via anetwork. The trading system can include one or more storage componentsadapted to store exchange mandated settlement and/or validation rulesfor financial instruments traded on the exchanges. The trading systemcan be adapted to communicate, via a network, with one or more tradersand receive, via the network, MOC orders from the traders. The tradingsystem can process and manage the MOC orders in accordance with anexecution model to optimally set a closing strategy and closing strategyrelease time for executing the MOC orders according to the type offinancial instrument, exchange specific settlement rules, orderparameters, and/or other static data associated with the financialinstrument. The trading system can further directly execute the orderson the exchanges, or indirectly, such as for example and not limitation,through a broker.

In an exemplary embodiment, for purpose of illustration and notlimitation, the trading system can store settlement rules specified by aplurality of exchanges for a plurality of financial instruments. Forexample and not limitation, in connection with futures and options,exchanges may determine the settlement price of an instrument by takingthe last sale price or quote price at the electronic market close, byaveraging the price over a short interval prior to close, by calculatingthe volume weighted average price (VWAP) over a short interval prior toclose, by taking the price of a closing cross/auction, by performingcalculations related to a volatility curve, or by other means known inthe industry. Execution models and algorithms to determine how and whento execute one or more orders to match or beat the settlement price, orother predetermined benchmark, are generally known in the industry for agiven settlement price calculation. In connection with the disclosedsubject matter, these models can be dynamically employed based on theexchange mandated settlement rules stored in the trading system.

By way of example and not limitation, in connection with certainexemplary embodiments, if an instrument's daily settlement calculationis identified as last trade price, or if there is no settlement processidentified, or the user defines an alternate closing strategy releasetime, the trading system disclosed herein can be adapted to run anexecution model to meet or be better than a predetermined benchmark,such as the closing price of the financial instrument. Descriptions ofcertain exemplary individual closing strategies are given below forpurpose of illustration and not limitation. In accordance with thedisclosed subject matter, the trading system can be adapted to employ astrategy selection logic guided by data describing daily settlementcalculation and appropriate settlement duration. This data can bedefined as the instrument's closing strategy and can be maintainedcentrally within the trading system.

In an exemplary embodiment, the trading system can implement the VWAPclosing strategy in situations where an exchange's Pit Close/DailySettlement Price, or closing price, is calculated as a volume weightedaverage of trades over some defined time-window, or settlement windowleading up to the Pit Close Time. The Default VWAP closing strategy canbe used when an instrument settles against the Last Trade, when there isno provided closing strategy or when the user has identified analternative closing strategy release time. For example and notlimitation, for an instrument with an Open Time of 08:00, a Last CloseTime of 19:00, a Pit Close of 16:00 and a VWAP closing strategy with a5-minute duration, the MOC order can work the order during the 5 minutesleading into the close, ending at the Pit Close time of 16:00, asillustrated by FIG. 1.

Additionally or alternatively, a closing strategy of “Auction” can beimplemented to participate in the exchange's Closing Auction to achievethe Daily Settlement Price, or closing price. This closing strategy canbe implemented, for example, when the settlement rule specifies that thesettlement price is calculated as the last contract price in theordinary auction trading session if trades are submitted during theclosing auction, or else if no trades are submitted then calculatedbased on bid offers made during the closing auction. This closingstrategy can slice the order within a predetermined time before theMarket Close, which can be a user-defined close time. In connection withan exemplary embodiment, slicing of the order can occur immediatelybefore the Market Close. One of skill in the art will appreciate that,as used in this context, “immediately” before the Market Close can be,for example, 100 ms.

For purpose of illustration and not limitation, an example of the logicemployed in an exemplary trading system upon receipt of a MOC order isdescribed below.

In this exemplary system, the closing strategy can first be determined.The closing strategy can be determined by, for example, retrieving theinstrument's closing strategy data from the trading system, such as froma centralized database or server. The closing strategy can be determinedas the Default VWAP strategy if (i) the user has manually set the CloseTime; (ii) the Closing Strategy is not available from the tradingsystem; (iii) the request for Closing Strategy data is rejected by thetrading system; (iv) the user chose Market Close, and a Pit Close (VWAPClosing Strategy) is available from the trading system; or (v) theprovided strategy is Last Trade. Otherwise, the closing strategyretrieved from the trading system can be used. For example, this can bea Timed VWAP, Last Trade (e.g., against the Market Close) or blank. Incertain embodiments it could also be Auction with a related Auction timein the future. If the user-requested Applicable Close Time is Pit Close,and there is no available Pit Close (e.g., if the trading system datadoes not return a Timed VWAP), the order entry can be rejected.

Next, the closing strategy release time can be determined. For exampleand not limitation, if the closing strategy is Default VWAP, the closingstrategy release time can be defined by a VWAP duration calculationbased on the market close or settlement time. The VWAP, is calculatedfor a given time span defined relative to the given close time orsettlement time for a given exchange, where different exchanges havedifferent timing rules for close and settlement. The VWAP represents thetotal traded value divided by the total traded quantity during thetrading session defined by the exchange specific close or settlementtime. In one example, the closing strategy release time can bedetermined by calculating the VWAP duration prior to the Market Close, auser-defined close time, and optionally can be recalculated after everytrade that occurs during the working period.

In certain exemplary embodiments, certain financial instruments, such asfutures contracts, can have both intraday mark to market (settlement)determination prior to the close of a trading session and end of daymark to market. In connection with these exemplary embodiments, thetechniques disclosed herein can include use of an execution model toallow a user to indicate which of the periods the order shouldparticipate in. Additionally, the techniques disclosed herein can allowa user to select a particular benchmark price that the order shouldadhere to. For example and not limitation, the benchmark can be thesettlement price or the closing price.

Next, the trading system can validate the MOC order. For example and notlimitation, the trading system can check the order parameters receivedfrom the trader against exchange specified financial instrument data,such as symbol and last trade price. This data can be maintained in adatabase or server of the trading system. The order can also be checkedagainst exchange specified customer account information, which cancontain account information of the named customer or trader and types oftrading the trader is approved to conduct. This data can also bemaintained in a database or server of the trading system. If the tradingsystem does not detect any discrepancies during the validation process,the order is transmitted to be executed on the exchange according to theexecution model. The trading system can further check whether avalidated order triggers regulatory and/or compliance requirements, suchas for example reporting requirements, and can report the executed tradeto the exchange specified regulatory and/or reporting entity based onthe exchange specific validation rules. For example and not limitation,on certain exchanges, executed trades must be reported to a givenreporting entity within a certain period of time after the trade isexecuted.

The techniques disclosed herein can encapsulate various exchangespecific instrument level parameters behind one generic execution model,working across all derivatives exchanges, with consistent set ofparameters, obviating the need of traders to recall or otherwiseintervene or manually refer to the various exchange and/or instrumentspecific rules and instead rely on the trading system to keep track ofvarious rules, parameters and variables to ensure the one or more ordersexecutes at or better than the specified benchmark.

Reference will now be made to the embodiment of FIG. 2 for the purposeof illustration and not limitation. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing atrading system 100 for managing and executing one or more MOC orders. Inone embodiment, the trading system 100 executes orders for financialinstruments at or near the end of the trading session of one or moreexchanges 150 a-c. The trading system 100 can comprise acomputer-implemented system operably connected via an electroniccommunication network 101. According to one embodiment, a router (orother network switch or data transmission device) 102 communicablyconnects storage server 110, processing server 120, and trading client130. The storage server 110 receives over the communications network 101and router 102 settlement and/or order validation rules associated withthe one or more exchanges 150 a-c. The trading client 130 is configuredwith software to display order parameters that define an MOC order to beexecuted so that once a trader has entered the parameters defining theMOC order, the order entry is transmitted, such as by a standardizedelectronic communications protocol, to processing server 120.

In certain embodiments the router 102 can facilitate communicationexchange between the electronic components of the trading system,including converting data received from the communications network 101into a specific format understood by the storage server 110, processorserver 120 and trading client 130.

In certain embodiments a data feed 140 can obtain and store real timeand historical market data from one or more exchanges 150 a-c.

The storage server 110, as embodied herein, can comprise one or morememory devices, including volatile and non-volatile memory devices forreceiving and storing exchange specific settlement rules. Additionally,the storage server 110 can comprise push and pull software fortransmitting and receiving settlement rules and settlement rule updatesfrom one or more exchanges 150 a-c. Additionally or alternatively, theuser can directly configure the settlement rules stored in the storageserver 110 to be processed by the processing server 120, for example viaa dialog entry. The storage server 110 can additionally receive andstore exchange specific validation rules and validation rule updatesfrom the one or more exchanges 150 a-c. The storage server 110 canadditionally or alternatively comprise a messaging component configuredto transmit and receive messages according to a standardizedcommunications protocol.

In certain embodiments the storage server 110 can receive and store realtime and historical market data concerning financial instrumentsdirectly from the one or more exchanges 150 a-c or from the data feed140 transmitted over the communications network 101.

As herein disclosed, processing server 120 is configured to receive theexchange specific settlement and/or validation rules from storage server110 and the order parameters from the trading client 130. In certainembodiments, the processing server 120 can check the order parametersagainst the exchange specific settlement rules and provision anexecution model to execute the one or more MOC orders directly on theone or more exchanges 150 a-c if the processing server has direct marketaccess. In another embodiment, the processing server can process andtransmit order entries to a broker 160 or dealer to have the MOC ordersexecuted on one or more exchanges according to the provisioned executionmodel. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the MOC orders canbe transmitted to the exchange either directly or indirectly. Theexecution model can comprise a closing strategy and closing strategyrelease time determined on the basis of the order parameters, storedsettlement rules corresponding to the identified exchange and identifiedfinancial instrument, and/or other static data associated with thefinancial instrument.

As embodied herein, the processing server 120 can comprise one or moreelectronic components specifically configured to process market data,settlement rules corresponding to the identified exchange and identifiedfinancial instrument, order parameters and conditions defined by one ormore order entry messages, as described in further detail below, and/orother static data associated with the financial instrument. Theprocessing server 120 can comprise specialized software for transmittingand receiving communications via a standardized communications protocol.Accordingly, the one or more processors of the processor server 120 canbe logically programmed to automatically and dynamically provision anexecution model by which to execute MOC orders received from the tradingclient 130 according to the exchange specific settlement rules receivedfrom the storage server 110 such that the one or more orders can executeon one or more given exchanges 150 a-c to match or beat the settlementprice or other predetermined benchmark. Settlement rules include, forexample, the mechanisms and timing of settlement price calculation. Forexample and not limitation, certain exchanges can calculate thesettlement price by (1) taking the last sale price or quote price at theelectronic market close, (2) by averaging the price over a shortinterval prior to close, (3) by calculating the volume weighted averageprice (VWAP) over a short interval prior to close, (4) by taking theprice of a closing cross/auction, (5) by performing calculations relatedto a volatility curve, or (6) by other means known in the industry.Moreover, certain exchanges can calculate the settlement price atdifferent times.

Additionally or alternatively, embodiments of the processor server 120can be configured to run code defining a closing strategy received fromthe trading client 130 in order to process and execute one or more MOCorders corresponding to order entry messages received from the tradingclient 130. Thus, the processor server not only executes MOC ordersbased on execution parameters and conditions provided in order entrymessages generated by the trading client 130, but also based on theexchange specific rules, thereby dynamically employing execution modelspermitted or mandated by the specific exchanges concerning the tradedinstrument.

In certain embodiments the processing server 120 can store and employdefault order parameters for different financial instruments associatedwith different exchanges.

In certain embodiments the processing server 120 can be co-located at ornear an exchange 150 a-c in order to provide the lowest latency duringorder execution.

In certain embodiments the processing server 120 can receive and storereal time and historical market data concerning financial instrumentsdirectly from the one or more exchanges 150 a-c or from the data feed140 over the communications network 101.

As embodied herein, the trading client 130 can include one or moreelectronic computing platforms such as a mobile device, PC, or computerwith multiple processors. The computing platforms can further comprisememory devices such as volatile and/or non-volatile memory. The tradingclient 130 can include one or more display devices for presenting agraphical user interface of trader software and/or applications to auser. Further, the trading client 130 can comprise specialized softwarefor transmitting and receiving communications via a standardizedcommunications protocol. Additionally, the trading client 130 cangenerate order entry messages that include, among other things, tradeinstructions specifying parameters such as, but not limited to, theorder type, size of the order, price limits, when the order can beexecuted, and where to present the order. The order entry messages canbe generated via an order entry dialog box or other means such as via astandardized electronic communications protocol. The order entrymessages can be transmitted over a communications network to be executedon an exchange. The trading client 130 is generally operated,controlled, and programmed by a user such as a human trader, but canalso be operated by an electronic device.

In certain embodiments the trading client 130 can receive and storemarket data concerning financial instruments from the data feed 140 overthe communications network 101.

In certain embodiments one or more orders can be sent to and executed bya broker 160 on the one or more exchanges 150 a-c according to theexecution model provisioned by the trading system.

For example and not limitation, FIG. 3 shows an order entry dialogdisplay having a plurality of user-definable parameters. A trader candefine parameters for a MOC order such as the exemplary parameters ofthe non-exhaustive list depicted in the table below.

Parameter Description Limit The limit price is optional. If it is notsupplied, parent order is a market order. All child orders will abide byany stated limit price. Start The date/time, in user local time zone, atwhich the execution model will become active. If order is enteredpre-open, the start time is the open time of the next continuous tradingsession. Expiry The type of expiry. Type End The time of order expiryand the time the execution model will stop processing an order.Applicable The closing time by which the model needs to have the orderClose executed. Time

With reference again to FIG. 2, in certain embodiments, the executionmodel can be an advanced order type model that allows traders to submitthe MOC order using a trading system. In an exemplary embodiment, theexecution model disclosed herein can specify a MOC order type that canbe used to satisfy trading objectives such as (1) to trade at or betterthan the price of the last electronic trade of the trading day or (2) totrade at or better than the instrument's daily settlement price (whichcan require executing the order in accordance with the daily settlementprocedure against the instrument's identified settlement time). Incertain exemplary embodiments, the MOC order type disclosed herein canbe made available via FIX or other suitable electronic message format.Additionally and/or alternatively, the MOC order type can be madeavailable through an order entry dialog display. That is, for example,the trading system disclosed herein can receive MOC orders from tradersusing a standardized messaging protocol or via trader software adaptedto display an order entry dialog with parameters for a MOC order.

With reference to FIG. 4 for the purpose of illustration and notlimitation, the trading system can be configured to store settlementrules corresponding to a plurality of exchanges and/or tradinginstruments and can be configured to execute user-defined MOC ordersaccording to the rules specified by an exchange. For example and notlimitation, the execution model can rely on exchange mandated settlementrules and settlement times, can accept the order prior to the settlementtime and can manage the order according to parameters and details of anexecution model permitted by an exchange for a given instrument. In thismanner, a trader can enter a MOC order and corresponding parameters atstep 410 and the trading system 100 can manage and process that order inaccordance with corresponding settlement rules as further illustrated inthe example flowchart 400 of one embodiment of the trading systemmethod. Once the trading client receives order parameters from the user410 through a software interface, such as an entry dialog, the tradingclient transmits the order entry message at block 420 to the processingserver 120. The processing server 120 then obtains the exchange specificsettlement rules from the storage server 110 at block 430 a and checksthe order against the settlement rules at block 430 b. At blocks 440 aand 440 b, the processing server 120 can use logic to process marketdata obtained from data feed 140 and provision an execution model inaccordance with the exchange specific settlement rules and user-definedthe order parameters or default parameters if none are defined. Finally,in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the processing server 120 can submit anorder at block 450 a based on the provisioned execution model, or submita modification or cancellation of an order as demonstrated by block 450b.

FIG. 5 shows for the purpose of illustration and not limitation, anexample timing diagram 500 of another embodiment of the trading systemherein disclosed. In FIG. 5, the trading client 130, processing server120, storage server 110, and exchange 150 are represented as verticallines. Other features of the trading system are not shown in FIG. 5 forclarity, but it should be understood that such other features as router102, or data feed 140, can be operated within the trading system over acommunications network 101. The steps of one or more embodiments of thetrading system are represented sequentially along the vertical lines atreference numbers 510-560.

As depicted in the embodiment of FIG. 5, for the purposes ofillustration and not limitation, the trader can define parameters for aMOC order through an order entry dialog display and can transmit anorder entry message according to a standardized communications protocolat step 510. Upon receiving the order entry message, the processingserver 120 can check the order parameters against the exchange specificsettlement rules obtained from the storage server 110 at step 520 anddynamically provision an execution model for executing the order basedon the order parameters, closing strategy, closing strategy releasetime, and/or other static data associated with the financial instrumentat step 530. As shown at step 540, in some embodiments of the disclosedtrading system, the processing server 120 can also be configured tocheck the order against the exchange specific order validation rulesobtained from the storage server 110. If the order does not comply withthe exchange specific order validation rules, then the order can berejected and transmitted to the trading client according to astandardized communications protocol at step 550. If the order complieswith the exchange specific order validation rules, then the processingserver 120 can execute the order directly on the exchange 150 accordingto provisioned execution model via a standardized communicationsprotocol and make any compliance and/or regulatory reporting to anexchange specified regulatory reporting entity based on the exchangespecific order validation rules at step 560.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the method and system of thedisclosed subject matter without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe disclosed subject matter. Thus, it is intended that the disclosedsubject matter include modifications and variations that are within thescope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for managing Market-On-Close (MOC)orders, comprising: storing in a trading system comprising one or morecomputing devices one or more settlement rules associated with one ormore exchanges, wherein the one or more settlement rules are associatedwith one or more financial instruments traded on the one or moreexchanges; receiving by the trading system a MOC order having one ormore order parameters, the order parameters identifying at least anexchange and a financial instrument; determining, based on the one ormore stored settlement rules corresponding to the identified exchangeand the identified financial instrument, a closing strategy;determining, based on the one or more stored settlement rulescorresponding to the identified exchange and the identified financialinstrument and the determined closing strategy, a closing strategyrelease time; and executing the closing strategy at the closing strategyrelease time; wherein executing the closing strategy includestransmitting one or more limit orders to an exchange.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the one or more settlement rules associated with one ormore exchanges comprises: a plurality of types of contracts permitted tobe traded; a plurality of types of assets to be traded; one or morecontract size limits; a marking-to-market calculation associated with atype of asset; a minimum margin requirement associated with the type ofcontract; a maintenance margin requirement associated with the type ofcontract; a minimum margin deposit requirement associated with a type ofparticipant; and trading hours.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein theone or more financial instruments can be one or more futures contractsof a commodity, bond, currency, or stock.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the one or more order parameters comprises: a limit price; astart time; an expiry type; an end time; and an applicable close time.5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving by the trading system aMOC order further comprises receiving the MOC order having the one ormore order parameters by a processing component of the trading systemfrom a trading client of the trading system, wherein said trading clientis configured to accept input defining the one or more order parametersfrom one or more end users via a dialog entry, and to transmit the MOCorder having the one or more user-defined order parameters to theprocessing component to be executed.
 6. The method of claim 5, whereinthe receiving and transmitting of MOC order having the one or moreuser-defined order parameters uses a suitable electronic message format.7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the closing strategy cancomprise: calculating a volume-weighted average price of the financialinstrument; calculating a time-weighted average price of the financialinstrument; or calculating a percentage of volume.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein determining, based on one or more of the storedsettlement rules corresponding to the identified exchange and theidentified financial instrument and the closing strategy, the closingstrategy release time comprises processing by a processing component ofthe trading system market data associated with the one or more financialinstruments traded on the one or more exchanges.
 9. The method of claim1, wherein executing the closing strategy at the closing strategyrelease time comprises validating the MOC order according to one or moreexchange specific order validation rules stored by the trading systemand associated with the one or more exchanges.
 10. The method of claim9, wherein validating the MOC order according to the one or moreexchange specific order validation rules comprises checking the one ormore order parameters against: customer account information; a symbolassociated with the financial instrument on the exchange; a last tradeprice of the financial instrument; one or more compliance triggers; andone or more regulatory reporting triggers.
 11. A system for managingMarket-On-Close (MOC) orders, comprising: trading system comprising oneor more computing devices in operable communication over a network,having a storage component configured to store market data and one ormore settlement rules associated with one or more exchanges, and whereinthe one or more settlement rules are associated with one or morefinancial instruments traded on the one or more exchanges; a tradingclient configured to receive one or more order parameters for generatingone or more MOC orders from user input, and wherein the trading clientis configured to send the one or more MOC orders to the trading system;a processing component configured to receive the one or more MOC ordersand calculate, based on the one or more order parameters, the one ormore settlement rules, and the identified financial instrument, aclosing strategy, and configured to calculate, based on the one or morestored settlement rules corresponding to the identified exchange and theidentified financial instrument and the closing strategy, a closingstrategy release time; and the trading system is in operablecommunication with the one or more exchanges.
 12. The system of claim11, wherein the storage component is configured to store one or moreorder validation rules associated with the one or more exchanges. 13.The system of claim 11, wherein the processing component is configuredto execute the one or more MOC orders directly on the one or moreexchanges.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processing componentis configured to validate the one or more MOC orders upon execution bychecking the order parameters against the one or more stored ordervalidation rules associated with the one or more exchanges.
 15. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the processing component is configured totransmit the one or more MOC orders to a broker associated with the oneor more exchanges.